# VSim vs Card Scanner

The clearest difference is review sentiment: VSim at 85% against Card Scanner's 0%. VSim also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (16K vs 4). Card Scanner's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VSim sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Card Scanner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

VSim holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VSim has 16K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of VSim's written reviews are positive against 0% of Card Scanner's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VSim | Card Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vsim-sms-verification-code/id1661720255/reviews)** | [4.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/card-scanner-giftly/id6667100133/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **16K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **84.5% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 46 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Elmond](https://appshunter.io/developer/1837068464) | [Luke Pearce](https://appshunter.io/developer/356544252) |

## What reviewers say

### VSim

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vsim-sms-verification-code/id1661720255)

Get a temporary virtual phone number to receive SMS verification codes without revealing your personal number. Activate accounts quickly and maintain privacy from unwanted spam. All messages are conveniently stored within the app.

**Highlights:** Receive SMS verification codes, Virtual numbers for account activation, In-app message inbox, Privacy protection, Pay-as-you-go credits, Supports popular platforms

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10 Credit | $0.99 | one-time |
| 30 Credit | $2.99 | one-time |
| 50 Credit | $4.99 | one-time |
| 100 Credit | $9.99 | one-time |
| 250 Credit | $24.99 | one-time |
| 500 credit | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 User-friendly
- 💡 Innovative features
- 🔒 Secure and reliable
- 🤝 Great customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 💰 Expensive pricing
- 📵 Numbers not working as expected
- 🚫 Banned/blocked numbers

**Reported bugs**

- Verification codes not received
- Numbers already in use
- Account bans without explanation

**Requested features**

- Ability to earn free credits
- More number options
- Improved privacy policy
- Better FAQ and community support


### Card Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/card-scanner-giftly/id6667100133)

Effortlessly manage and track all your gift cards in one secure location. Get timely expiry alerts, sync across devices, and visualize your spending with intuitive charts. Never lose track of your card balances or let them expire again.

**Highlights:** All-in-one gift card management, Secure and encrypted storage, Expiry alerts and notifications, Search, sort, and filter options, Sync across multiple devices, User-friendly interface, Spending tracking and visualization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Giftly: Gift Card Tracker PRO | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Giftly: Gift Card Tracker PRO | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VSim free?

VSim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Card Scanner free?

Card Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, VSim or Card Scanner?

VSim is rated higher. VSim averages 4.7 out of 5 from 16K ratings, while Card Scanner averages 4.3 from 4 ratings.

### Do VSim or Card Scanner have ads?

VSim shows ads; Card Scanner does not.

### Which is updated more often, VSim or Card Scanner?

VSim ships an update every 2 months, and Card Scanner every 2 months. Most recently, VSim was updated on October 15, 2026 and Card Scanner on September 27, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*